Front Cover 1
Designing End-User Interfaces 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 6
Foreword 8
Publisher's note 10
Part I: Invited Papers 12
Chapter 1. ISSUE — a case study in expert system interfaces 14
Introduction 16
Problems with expert system interfaces 16
ISSUE (Intelligent Spreadsheet Utility Environment) 19
Conclusions 27
Chapter 2. Human/Computer Interaction Engineering (HCIE) 28
Work 31
Human/computer systems 31
Performance 32
Engineering human/computer interactions — the design problem 33
Application of the conception — the case of CAD displays 34
Conclusion 35
Chapter 3. The user in a sociotechnical system 36
Introduction 38
Sociotechnical systems theory 38
IT systems in their social systems context 39
Matching information systems with the social system reality 43
Analysis for requirements specification 43
Sociotechnical implications for the interface 45
Conclusions 46
Chapter 4. Methodologies for designing User/Computer Interfaces (UCIs) 48
Introduction 50
Methodologies for human factors 50
User/Computer Interfaces (UCIs) 55
Conclusions 61
Acknowledgement 61
Chapter 5. Developments in Human/Computer Interaction (HCI) hardware 62
Introduction 64
Computer input 64
Computer output 75
Portability, storage and integration 80
Conclusion 82
Acknowledgements 83
Chapter 6. Guidelines and principles of interface design 84
Introduction 86
Guidelines and principles 86
UCI protocol 88
Standard UCIs 94
Conclusions 95
Acknowledgement 95
Chapter 7. Developments in computing and the user interface — emerging issues in end-user interface design 96
Introduction 98
What is interaction? 99
Engineering the user interface 100
Integration of UID 102
Looking to the future 103
Conclusion 106
Chapter 8. Introduction to the design of end-user interfaces 108
Introduction 110
What is the end-user interface? 110
Why is the design of the user interface often neglected? 112
What are the consequences of poor interface design? 112
Usability context — the acceptability equation 114
Usability definition and quantification 114
Usability evaluation — criteria and procedures 116
Why are usability and good interface design important? 118
What are the benefits of human factors and usability in system design? 119
Conclusion 120
Chapter 9. Integrating human factors with system development 122
Introduction 124
Human factors and current system development practice 124
Extending JSD to integrate human factors 125
Integrating human factors activities 126
Summary and conclusions 130
Acknowledgements 131
Chapter 10. Communicating with the user 132
What information do users need? 134
Choosing the presentation medium 137
Selecting among visual design options 138
Feedback to writers 140
Conclusions 140
Invited Paper references 142
Part II: Analysis 158
Chapter 1. Definition of the problem 160
Introduction 162
Terminology 164
Failures of IT systems 164
Understanding the user 165
Hardware problems 166
Software problems 166
Conclusions 167
Chapter 2. Psychological and social factors 168
Introduction 170
Types of user 171
Cognitive capabilities of the user 171
The user in the sociotechnical system 173
Chapter 3. Principles of interface design 178
Introduction 180
Hardware 181
Dialogue design 184
Adaptive systems 186
Bespoke versus general interfaces 187
User support 188
Conclusions 189
Chapter 4. Computer intelligence and interface design 190
Introduction 192
Explanation and help 196
Natural Language Front Ends (NLFEs) 198
Knowledge acquisition 200
Expert system interfaces 201
Conclusions 201
Chapter 5. Systems aspects of the human/computer interface 204
Chapter 6. Conclusion 218
Change in perception of the user 220
Effects of hardware technology advances 221
Effects of software technology 221
Importance of human factors in the design process 222
National/international initiatives 225
Conclusion 226
Analysis references 228
Bibliography 234
Index 254
Subject and contributor index 256